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Participate in my poll........How fast have you ever DRIVEN a vehicle?

After getting the Dinan stage one, I took my X to 161 MPH (actual displayed speed on the HUD.) I was scared as the speed was still building. That inspired me to start this poll. I'm curious to see how fast people have DRIVEN a vehicle.

Maxed out my MDX on the a-bahn, the rentals I've had from Sixt I've had in the 130+ range, anything over that you either need some power or a lot a road. Never had a chance to take the 135i over to Germany unfortunately.

Royale RP 31 Formula Ford, back straight at Road America during a race, maybe 130+ in close drafting with faster cars. Most race cars have no speedometers and that was before telemetry, so hard to know for sure. Fast enough, in a tight group of vulnerable open-wheel vintage race cars with Armco barriers just a few feet on either side of the track; especially when you have to slow to 45-50 or so for the unforgiving partially off-camber hard left at Turn 5. Focuses the mind, frees the soul, and explains why I seldom go "fast" in my road cars.

140 mph on the main straight of Watkins Glen before they put in the "Bus Stop".

Anyone who drives any vehicle with street tires over 100 mph on a public road is an idiot and deserves to be forcibly removed from the gene pool. If you really feel the need to explore the limits, please do it at a BMWCCA HPDE where the risks are mitigated, safety crews are in place, and no innocent bystanders are placed in jeopardy.

Anyone who drives any vehicle with street tires over 100 mph on a public road is an idiot and deserves to be forcibly removed from the gene pool.

Are you referring to the autobahn also? You sound like law enforcement.

Actually my X5 cruises very nicely at about 105 MPH. It feels like it was engineered for that speed. It has Y rated tires, so I dont worry about that. I actually enjoy driving 100-110 mph in this SAV. It just feels so dam good. I would do it all the time if it weren't for other cars and law enforcement.

No I am not law enforcement. But I have spent enough time as an HPDE instructor to know that most people have no freaking clue what to do when things go wrong at 100+ MPH. Add in other traffic, deer, moose, and the deteriorating condition of our infrastructures, and I think you are insane to goo 100+ on any public road, especially in the USA. And it has nothing to do with law enforcement.

Come to think of it, it has little to do with public roads. Most people do not have the ability to deal with a problem at 100+ mph, period. I am sure any of these 5 families would agree.

Can you tell I feel passionately about this? A BMWCCA HPDE is the most fun you can have with your car, you will not jeopardize yourself or innocent bystanders, and you will learn skills that can save your life. If you want to drive 100+, do it there, not on the street.

AWWW......you have love for us. Thatís so nice, and I understand what your talking about. You are right. Most people cant control a car once its out of control. Especially at those speeds. I used to be able to do it, but that was so long ago. Now throw in the fact that the X is all wheel drive. I donít know how it will react if it gets out of control and I try to gather it back in. But on another note, I feel comfortable, totally safe and in control of the X5 at 100 mph. I donít feel comfortable in my ford or camry at that speed. When the X5 is at 100 mph, it doesnít even feel like it. It is so well behaved. Come to think of it most newer cars, especially German and Japanese luxury cars, you dont even realize you are doing 80 or 90 mph until you look at the speedo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackbury

A BMWCCA HPDE is the most fun you can have with your car, you will not jeopardize yourself or innocent bystanders, and you will learn skills that can save your life. If you want to drive 100+, do it there, not on the street.

140 mph on the main straight of Watkins Glen before they put in the "Bus Stop".

Anyone who drives any vehicle with street tires over 100 mph on a public road is an idiot and deserves to be forcibly removed from the gene pool. If you really feel the need to explore the limits, please do it at a BMWCCA HPDE where the risks are mitigated, safety crews are in place, and no innocent bystanders are placed in jeopardy.

/Rant.

Panties in a bunch much???

In all seriousness, I do understand what you are saying....BUT....if I'm not jeopardizing anyone else's health and safety, who are you to tell me how I decide to go?

If I crash at 150 mph on the track or on the road the result is going to be pretty much the same.

I have multiple roads that I can literally see for miles here in AB that are perfectly smooth and under-utilized. You are absolutely correct that if I crash north of 240 km/h, things aren't going to turn out well. Still not something you get to decide.

In all seriousness, I do understand what you are saying....BUT....if I'm not jeopardizing anyone else's health and safety, who are you to tell me how I decide to go?

If I crash at 150 mph on the track or on the road the result is going to be pretty much the same.

Totally disagree. On the track, you have passed a safety inspection, and are wearing a helmet. There is fencing to keep critters off the track, there is no oncoming traffic, there are flag stations to warn you of incidents ahead, a total absence of trees and telephone poles, Armco around other things that can hurt you big time, maybe even gravel traps and tire walls. There may be "some" roads that offer similar levels of crash-friendliness, but they certainly are in the minority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

I have multiple roads that I can literally see for miles here in AB that are perfectly smooth and under-utilized. You are absolutely correct that if I crash north of 240 km/h, things aren't going to turn out well. Still not something you get to decide.

You don't know me, but if you did, you would realize I am tremendously opposed to government intervention in our lives. But at some point we (as a society) do have some interest in your health and safety. If you roll your 7 series into a twisted little ball of metal, the rest of us (via our medical insurance premiums) are going to subsidize your hospital bills, prosthetics and rehab.

If we could get the Government to agree to withhold ANY financial subsidy / medical insurance / sympathy for anyone who hurts themselves and their passengers driving at triple digit speeds, I would be 100% in agreement with you. But I can't see that happening.

So I'll settle for the next best thing: reminding folks that there are alternatives to going 100-plus on public roads, and hoping that at least one person out there will listen.

So I'll settle for the next best thing: reminding folks that there are alternatives to going 100-plus on public roads, and hoping that at least one person out there will listen.

Flame on.

Like I said, I don't really disagree with you.

I guess at the end of the day, what is the point of owning any high performance DD vehicle like our +400 hp rides??? If you're not ever going to push them, why own them, save for a few track days a year?

I've only ever had one ticket in the F and it was BS for only 12 mph over the limit on the highway when passing safely, so don't think I'm suggesting that I cruise consistently north of 140 mph or put anyone in danger, other than myself.

We can then enter the debate on what truly "safe" speeds are. I'd argue with you all day long that current speed limits only remain where they are due to our governments' needing the revenue vs. occupant safety. I'd strongly disagree with you that 100 mph is unsafe in a mechanically sound (including properly tired) vehicle with a capable driver.

Any moron can go a buck 25 on the Garden State Parkway. That takes zero skill. To me, it's infinitely more rewarding to get through Big Bend, the Keyhole, the 90, or the turn at Daytona that leads from the infield onto the banking, in a 4 wheel drift, feet dancing back and forth across the pedals, and hands working the wheel to keep the contact patches right on the edge.

Back in the day when we had the contract with Mercedes for their dealer ride and drive events, I was the guy who always took the 190E or 300D out for hot laps. Sure the S600's made gobs of torque and could pin you back inyour seat, but I found it much more fun to wring every last bit of performance out of the car with the skinny tires and the most anemic engine.

That, to me, is the most rewarding. It's all about the driver, not the size of the motor or the tune on the chip.